Toe massage device

ABSTRACT

A toe massage device is constructed from a rotating body while being supported on a base by a supporting shaft; a rotation drive device for rotating the rotating body in the normal and reverse directions; and toe fixation means provided on the rotating body and fixing toes of a subject. The toes are fixed on the rotating body by the toe fixation means and the rotating body is rotated in the normal and reverse directions. When the rotating body is rotated in the normal direction, the toes are pulled forward and downward. That is, the toes are pulled in the direction in which they are bent toward the sole. When the rotating body is rotated in the reverse direction, the toes are bent upward while being caused to move backward.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device that applies a force bendingtoes to the sole side and a force bending the same back to the instepside to perform massage.

BACKGROUND ART

There have been proposed various types of toe massage devices, such asone that presses toes from above and below, or pulls the same forward toperform massage.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show one example of the toe massage devices (PatentDocument 1). In this example, a pair of brackets (91) (91) is disposedon a base (9), and two roller shafts (93) (93) each having a roller (92)are disposed between both the brackets (91) (91) so as to be opposedvertically. End portions of both the roller shafts (93) (93) are biasedin directions approaching each other by springs (94) (94). A guide line(95) is provided on the base (9), and a spherical body (96) is rollablyprovided on the guide line (95). A sole is rested on the spherical body(96) and toes are forcibly inserted between the rollers (92) (92) to bemoved back and forth. The pressure from above and below by the rollers(92) (92), and the rubbing from the rollers (92) (92) by the back andforth movement of a foot are applied to the toes, thereby to perform themassage.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-119563

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In the above-described toe massage device, a subject needs to move hisor her foot back and forth. Accordingly, it is a bother, and hard to usein a case where the subject sits in a chair.

Moreover, the pressing the toes from above and below and the rubbing bymoving the toes back and forth are a normal method in a mechanicalmassage, and thus, lacks novelty.

The present invention discloses a massage device capable ofautomatically applying a force bending toes to the sole side, and aforce bending the toes back to the instep side, so that a massage effectcan be obtained as if a subject were massaged by a massager.

Means for Soling the Problems

A toe massage device is made up of a rotating body (2) disposed on abase (1) rotatably in normal and reverse directions, a rotation drivedevice (8) that rotates the rotating body in the normal and reversedirections, and toe fixation means (7) provided on the rotating body (2)for fixing toes of a subject on the rotating body (2).

In the toe massage device, a base end of a footrest (3) for resting afoot is pivotally supported on the base (1), a free end thereof isdisposed toward a rotating body (2) side on the base (1), and thefootrest (3) is linked to the rotating body (2) so that the free end ofthe footrest (3) swings vertically in conjunction with the rotation ofthe rotating body (2).

The footrest (3) of the toe massage device is made up of a swingingmember (4) that is linked to the rotating body (2) so that a free endthereof swings vertically, a rotating member (5) that rotates centeringaround a pivot (51) in a plane of the swinging member (4), and a solerest member (6) that is disposed so as to approach, and draw apart from,the rotating body (2) on the rotating member (5) and on which a sole isrested.

In the toe massage device, the toes are fixed on the rotating body (2)by the toe fixation means (7), and the rotating body (2) is rotatedalternately in the normal and reverse directions by the rotation drivedevice (8). In this case, when the rotating body (2) is rotated in thenormal direction, the toes are pulled forward and downward. That is, thetoes are pulled in a direction bending the toes to the sole side. Whenthe rotating body (2) is rotated in the reverse direction, the toes arebent upward while being moved back.

When the rotating body (2) rotates in the normal and reverse directions,respectively, the bending to the sole side and the bending-back to theinstep side of the toes are performed alternately. Additionally, theseoperations also involve the motions of the pull and compression of thetoes, and these combined motions cannot be attained in a conventionalautomatic massage device, which makes the subject feel as if he or shewere massaged by a massager.

Moreover, the subject only needs to fix his or her toes on the rotatingbody (2), and since the rotating body (2) is automatically rotated inthe normal and reverse directions to perform massage by the rotationdrive device (8), the subject can receive the massage in a comfortableposition while sitting on a chair.

Moreover, in the toe massage device, since the free end, that is, thetoe side of the footrest (3) swings in conjunction with the rotation ofthe rotating body (2) so as to follow the motion of the toes, large loadis not applied to the toes, which can prevent the toes from being hurt.

Since in the footrest (3), the rotating member (5) can be rotated tochange the orientation of the toes with respect to the toe fixationmeans (7) so that all the five toes are fixed on the rotating body (2)by the toe fixation means (7), the above-described massage effect can besimultaneously obtained for the five toes.

Furthermore, when the toes are pulled forward by the rotation of therotating body (2), the sole rested on the sole rest member (6) followsthe motion of the toes and goes forward to the rotating body (2) side,and additionally, the sole rest member (6) rises together with theswinging member (4), which can effectively prevent the toes from beinghurt even if the toes are pulled too much.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a toe massage device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a state where an angle of a sole rest member ofthe same is changed.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the toe massage device in which a rotating bodyis in a neutral position.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the toe massage device in which the rotatingbody is in a toe pulling position.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the toe massage device in which the rotatingbody is in a toe bending-back position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the toe massage device in a state wherea rotating member and a sole rest member are detached.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional toe massage device.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a usage state of the same.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1. base

2. rotating body

3. footrest

4. swinging member

5. rotating member

6. sole rest member

7. toe fixation means

8. rotation drive device

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A toe massage device of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3,and 4. This is made up of a rotating body (2) disposed on one end sideof a substantially rectangular base (1), a footrest (3) that issupported so as to vertically swing centering around a spindle (41) onthe other end side on the base (1), and is linked to the rotating body(2) at a free end thereof so as to vertically swing in conjunction withthe rotation of the rotating body (2), and toe fixation means (7) thatis provided on the rotating body (2) for fixing the toes of a subject onthe rotating body (2).

The base (1) is sized so that the entire sole of the subject can berested thereon with an enough margin. In the base (1), brackets (11)(11) are projected on both sides of one end, and the rotating body (2)is rotatably supported by a lateral supporting shaft (21) bridgingbetween the brackets (11) (11). The rotating body (2) of an embodimentis a roller (2 a) having a diameter of about 6 cm and a length of about14 cm. A rotation drive device (8) for rotating the rotating body innormal and reverse directions is linked to the roller (2 a), and theroller (2 a) of the embodiment is a so-called motor roller containingthe rotation drive device (8).

In the toe fixation means (7) on the rotating body (2), both legportions (71 a) (71 a) of a gate-shaped attachment frame (71) are fixedto both ends of the roller (2 a), as shown in FIG. 3. A boss (72) with ascrew hole is projected in a center of the attachment frame (71), and apush bolt (75) is screwed into the boss (72).

A pressing member (73) is disposed across both the leg portions (71 a)(71 a) in the attachment frame (71) so as to approach, and draw apartfrom, the rotating body (2), and a tip portion of the push bolt (75) isjoined pivotably to the pressing member (73).

Elastic members (74) (22) of urethane foam resin or the like are placedin portions opposed to the pressing member (73) and the rotating body(2) surface, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the footrest (3) is made up of a swingingmember (4) that swings at a free end on the rotating body (2) side inconjunction with the rotation of the rotating body (2), a rotatingmember (5) disposed rotatably on the swinging member (4), and a solerest member (6) that, on the rotating member (5), approaches, and drawsapart from, the rotating body (2).

The swinging member (4) is a plate body, and as shown in FIG. 4, thefree end thereof on the rotating body (2) side can swing verticallycentering around the horizontal spindle (41) on the base (1) on theopposite side of the rotating body (2). In the swinging member (4), thefree end side thereof and eccentric points of the rotating body (2) arepivotally joined through links (42).

In an upper surface of the swinging member (4), a guide depressedportion (43) (see FIG. 2) is formed, and the rotating member (5) isfitted into the guide depressed portion (43) so as to rotate centeringaround a pivot (51).

The above-mentioned pivot (51) is located in a center of width on thefree end side of the swinging member (4) and is oriented in a directionperpendicular to the supporting shaft (21) of the rotating body (2). Therotating member (5) can rotate in a surface parallel to a plate surfaceof the swinging member (4). In the guide depressed portion (43) of theswinging member (4) and the rotating member (5), circular arc wallsurfaces (44), (54) are formed, respectively, so that the rotatingmember (5) rotates with the circular arc wall surface (54) in contactwith the circular arc wall surface (44).

A guide line (52) is provided on the rotating member (5), and the solerest member (6) for resting the sole is slidably provided on the guideline (52). FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the toe massage device in astate where the rotating member (5) and the sole rest member (6) aredetached therefrom. The guide line (52) extends from a central portionof the circular arc wall surface (54) of the rotating member (5) to thepivot (51) side as the rotation center. The sole rest member (6) of theembodiment is formed in an enough size to rest a heel of the subject,and in the sole rest member (6), a circular arc wall (61) surrounding anouter periphery of the heel is provided vertically.

FIG. 4 shows a state where the rotating body (2) is in a neutralposition. The neutral position of the rotating body (2) is a rotationstating position on the rotating body (2), in which the attachment frame(71) of the toe fixation means (7) is substantially upright. The freeend of the swinging member (4) is pulled by the links (42), and ascompared with a case where the free end rises most, it rises to about ahalf height.

The rotation drive device (8) causes the rotating body (2) to stop inthe neutral position when an operation switch (not shown) is turned off.

FIG. 5 shows a state where the rotating body (2) is in a toe pullingposition. The toe fixation means (7) is inclined in a direction pullingthe toes. The swinging member (4) and the links (42) are located insubstantially the same straight line, and the free end of the swingingmember (4) rises most.

FIG. 6 shows a state where the rotating body (2) is in a toebending-back position. The toe fixation means (7) is inclined in adirection compressing the toes. The swinging member (4) is in a statesubstantially parallel to the base (1), and the free end of the swingingmember (4) is in a lowest position.

According to commands from a controller of a remote-control type, theabove-described rotation drive device (8) can make setting of theneutral position of the rotating body (2), setting of a clockwiserotation angle (rotation angle of rotation in the normal direction) fromthe neutral position, setting of a counterclockwise angle (rotationangle of rotation in the reverse direction) from the neutral position,setting of a reciprocating rotation period of the rotating body (2) andthe like.

However, the controller may be eliminated to fix the angle of rotationin the normal and reverse directions of the rotating body (2) to acertain range. In this case, in view of the size of the above-describedroller (2 a), the rotation angle of the rotating body (2) isappropriately set to about 45° from the neutral position in therespective normal and reverse directions.

When the toe massage device is used, as shown in FIG. 4, a heel of oneof the feet is rested on the sole rest member (6). Next, five toes areinserted between the pressing member (73) of the toe fixation means (7)and the rotating body (2) in the neutral position.

Since a length from the heel to each of the toes becomes shorter inorder from the first toe (thumb) to the fifth toe (minimus), when thesole rest member (6) is fixed, it is difficult to simultaneously insertthe five toes between the rotating body (2) and the pressing member(73). If the position of the sole rest member (6) is fixed so that thefive toes can be simultaneously inserted between the rotating body (2)and the pressing member (73), this poses problems that this devicecannot be used for the other foot, and that the device cannot correspondto a variation in size of foot.

In the embodiment, the sole rest member (6) is disposed on the rotatingmember (5) that can rotate on the swinging member (4). Thereby, when theheel of the foot can be rested on the sole rest member (6), and solerest member (6) is moved so as to insert all the five toes between therotating body (2) and the pressing member (73), the five toes can beeasily inserted between the rotating body (2) and the pressing member(73). Additionally, since the sole rest member (6) can approach, anddraw apart from, the rotating body (2), this device can be used for anysize of foot.

Once the five toes are inserted between the rotating body (2) and thepressing member (73), the push bolt (75) is fastened to sandwich andhold the toes by the rotating body (2) and the pressing member (73).

Although thickness of the five toes differs, the elastic members (22)(74) are placed in the respective opposed portions of the rotating body(2) and the pressing member (73), so that the elastic deformation of theelastic members (22) (74) allows the respective toes to be sandwichedand held in just proportion. This can prevent the toes from being hurtdue to excessive strong fastening force.

The rotating body (2) can be rotated in the normal and reversedirections by the rotation drive device (8).

As shown in FIG. 5, when the rotating body (2) rotates in the normaldirection, the toes are pulled and bent downward, that is, to the soleside along a circular arc surface of the rotating body (2).

The entire sole is also pulled obliquely upward on the rotating body (2)side. At this time, the sole rest member (6) on which the heel is restedswings upward in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating body (2)so as to follow in the pull direction of the toes. Therefore, large loadis not applied to the toes, which can prevent the toes from being hurt.

Additionally, since the sole rest member (6) can approach, and drawapart from, the rotating body (2), the sole rest member (6) slides inthe pull direction, so that excessive load is not applied to the foot.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rotating body (2) rotates in the reversedirection, a force bending the toes back to the instep side is applied.A force pushing the sole in the direction apart from the rotating body(2) and a downward force act on the entire sole. At this time, the solerest member (6) moves back in the pushed direction, and swings downwardcentering around the spindle (41), so that excessive load is not appliedto the foot.

As described above, when the rotating body (2) rotates in the normal andreverse directions, respectively, the bending of the toes to the soleside and the bending-back to the instep side are performed alternately.Additionally, these motions involve the motions of the pull andcompression of the toes. These combined motions cannot be attained in aconventional automatic massage device, which makes the subject feel asif he or she were massaged by a massager.

Moreover, the subject only needs to fix his or her toes on the rotatingbody (2), and since the rotating body (2) is automatically rotated inthe normal and reverse directions to perform the above-describe massageby the rotation drive device (8), the subject can receive the massage ina comfortable position while sitting on a chair.

For example, when a vibratory device (not shown) such as a vibratingmotor is linked to the rotating body (2) so that the rotating body (2)is rotated in the normal and reverse directions while being vibrated, amassage effect by vibration can be attained in addition to theabove-describe effect. In this case, the supporting shaft (21) of therotating body (2) needs to be supported by the brackets (11) of the base(1) so as to vibrate and rotate in the normal and reverse directions.The vibrating motor can also be mounted inside of the rotating body (2).

As described above, if the sole rest member (6) freely approaches, anddraws apart from, the rotating body (2) by the forces acting on thesole, the effects of the pull and compression of the toes by the normaland reverse rotations of the rotating body (2) will be reduced. For thesubject who feels the effect of the massage weak, by providing means forfixing the sole rest member (6) in an optimal position of the guide line(52), the pull force, compression force, bending force to the sole side,and bending-back force to the instep side of intensities desired by thesubject can be attained.

As the fixation means of the sole rest member (6), for example, as shownin FIGS. 2 and 5, there can be cited means in which a clamping bolt (62)capable of pressing a side surface of the guide line (52) is screwedinto the sole rest member (6). The clamping bolt (62) is fastened tothereby fix the sole rest member (6) in an optimal position on the guideline (52).

While the rotating body (2) is a roller in the embodiment, it is notlimited to this, but the rotating body (2) can have any shape, if it canplay a role of a supporting table for rotating the toe fixation means(7) in the normal and reverse directions. In a constitution in which thetoe fixation means (7) is rotated directly by the rotation drive device(8), the toe fixation means (7) also serves as the rotating body (2).

1. A toe massage device comprising: a roller rotatably supported about alateral supporting shaft on a base; a rotation drive device that rotatessaid roller in normal and reverse directions; toe fixation meansprovided on the roller for fixing toes of a subject on the roller; and afootrest for resting a foot of the subject, whereby the toe massagedevice repeatingly massages by pull bending and press bending-back withrespect to the toes of the subject, wherein the footrest comprises: aplate-like swinging member having a free end side linked to the roller;an opposite end side that is opposite to the free end side; and ahorizontal spindle on the opposite end side, wherein the free end sideswings vertically pivoting around the horizontal spindle in conjunctionwith the rotation of the roller; a rotating member rotating around apivot, the pivot being located in a center of a width on the free endside of the swinging member and oriented in a direction perpendicular tothe supporting shaft of the roller; and a heel rest member disposed onthe rotating member and on which a heel of the subject is rested.
 2. Thetoe massage device according to claim 1, wherein the heel rest member isdisposed on the rotating member so as to move closer to and away fromthe roller.
 3. The toe massage device according to claim 1, wherein thetoe fixation means is constructed by screwing a push bolt toward thesupporting shaft of the roller on an attachment frame provided above theroller, and attaching a pressing member to a tip end of said push bolt,and the roller and the pressing member sandwich and hold the toes of thesubject.
 4. The toe massage device according to claim 1, wherein elasticmembers are placed in opposed portions of the toe fixation means, andthe roller.
 5. The toe massage device according to claim 1, wherein theroller is linked to a vibratory device to rotate in the normal andreverse directions with vibration.
 6. The toe massage device accordingto claim 1, wherein the swinging member has a guide depressed portionand the rotating member is fitted into the guide depressed portion so asto rotate around the pivot with a convex arc wall surface of therotating member in contact with a concave arc wall surface of the guidedepressed portion.